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49 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, May 2, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend April 6, 2004 Downtown makeover picks up steam MURA has 29 facade improvement projects planned for Medford By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune A crane loading the first delivery of steel to the Cuthbert Building early Monday marked a new phase for the downtown renovation project. "We’re finally at the turning point where we’re putting things back together," said Jim Akery, project coordinator for R.A. Murphy Construction. The 1910 Cuthbert Building, at the corner of Central Avenue and Sixth Street in Medford, is undergoing a $2.5 million makeover. It’s one of Medford Urban Renewal Agency’s 29-and-counting fa�ade improvement projects that are changing the face of downtown Medford. MURA has distributed $250,000 in grants so far, and 18 more are pending. Advertisement Reid Murphy, who owns the 24,000-square-foot Cuthbert building, is considering retail-commercial spaces on the ground floor and residential and office spaces on the second floor. "We hoped to be about a month further along," said Akery, adding that the demolition has brought to light additional structural engineering needs in the old building. Akery said they’re aiming to complete the main roof in May, and windows will be installed in June. "We’re hoping to have the shell, the outside of the place, finished by June," he said. MURA Director Kurt Olsen said the monthlong delay won’t put off the agency’s major Central Avenue renovation project set to begin later this month. About 20 businesses and offices will have limited pedestrian access temporarily when MURA begins the$1 million streetscape project. The work will extend along Central Avenue, from Main Street north almost to Fourth Street. It will run part way down Fifth and Sixth streets, as well as along a portion of Bartlett Street. MURA will install new concrete pavers, trees, streetlights, traffic signals, curbs and storm drains, making the area resemble the renovated sections of downtown. Olsen said bids for that work are due Thursday and will be presented at Tuesday’s MURA board meeting. Work will begin this month, he said. Meanwhile, the next buildings in line for subsidized fa�ade improvements are Bella Bambinos, a new children’s furniture store to open behind Pedrojetti’s Pelle Fina on Fir and Main streets; and Al’s Cycles and Hobbies at 127 N. Central Ave. "The one that will probably happen next is the Fluhrer Building," said Olsen. The blue Fluhrer Bakery building, on the corner of West Main and Holly streets, is owned by Bill Ferguson. Ferguson, who owns several office buildings downtown, filed a suit against the MURA-planned Winetrout project in 2002. The case was dismissed in Jackson County Circuit Court, but it stopped a planned six-story, mixed-use building at Front, Fir, West Main and Eighth streets. Ferguson has been looking at different color schemes for the Fluhrer building‘s front columns, and he plans to install awnings and a courtyard. Rack ’Em on North Riverside Avenue and Pronto Print on East Fourth Street also have pending fa�ade projects, said Olsen. The Southern Oregon Historical Society History Center fa�ade improvement proposal is scheduled to go before the Historic Commission today. "That brings the total to 47 projects that are either pending, under construction or completed," said Olsen. Reach reporter Meg Landersat 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times